Are you looking to create an outdoor space for your children? Then you might want to consider an artificial grass play area. In this blog, we’ll cover the benefits of artificial grass for kids and give you some helpful tips on where to start with installing your turf.
Check out our brilliant selection of artificial grass at Grass Direct or request a free sample to see our quality for yourself.
Why should you use artificial grass in a play area?
There are a range of benefits to choosing an artificial grass play area for your children. Some of the reasons to opt for false grass include:
Increased safety
When playing outside, ensuring the safety of children is a top priority. Installing artificial grass creates a soft layer free from mud and grime that prevents injury from falls.
Natural grass can cause scrapes, cuts and bruises on impact and hard, uneven ground increases the risk of falls. False grass creates a level surface so not only are children protected when they fall but the chance of falling is also reduced.
All of our grass options have a softness rating so you can choose the best option for your family. Our Monaco grass has a softness rating and a wear rating of 5 stars, making it the ideal choice for kids' play areas.
Installing grass underlay also provides an additional layer of protection with 10mm of shock-absorbent foam.
Durable
We know that children enjoy rough and tumble as part of their play, and artificial grass is a material that stands strong against playtime. You and your kids can run, jump and play without wearing down the grass fibres or creating downtrodden patches.
Extreme weather is also no match for false turf, keeping green and clean in wind, rain and even snow. Artificial grass has UV ray resistance so your grass won’t yellow or burn on those rare sunny summer days!
For an extra long-lasting, high-quality option you can opt for luxury artificial grass that offers hyper-realistic, durable grass fibres that stand the test of time.
Low Maintenance
One of the brilliant things about artificial grass is that it requires little maintenance. Unlike real grass, you won’t need to mow, water or fertilise your turf. Not only does false grass save you money on grass treatments but it ensures your children have a green play area all year round.
How do you install an artificial grass play area?
Whilst installing artificial grass is a fairly straightforward process, there are a few things to consider before you start installation.
Planning
You’ll need to measure the size of your outdoor area to gauge how much grass you need to purchase. You should also consider what types of activities and items you want to place in your play area and how they could be positioned/fit into your outdoor space.
If you’re not sure how you want your outdoor space to look, you can take a look at some of our artificial grass design ideas for inspiration.
Select the right artificial grass for your project
If you’re designing an outside space specifically for children, you need to ensure you choose the right artificial turf that’s suitable for kids. The artificial grass you choose should be durable enough to withstand heavy play whilst also remaining soft and durable.
At Grass Direct, we offer the UK’s largest selection of artificial grass and are dedicated to providing high quality on an affordable scale. This means that all of our ranges from budget grass to elite false turf offer exceptional quality in a price range suited to you.
Prepare your ground
Before you lay your artificial grass, there are a few preparations to make to ensure the ground is ready for the turf. You’ll need to level your garden if it’s uneven and add a weed suppressant membrane to prevent any unwanted weeds from growing through your grass.
You should also make sure you have all the correct artificial grass tools and accessories to ensure you can lay your grass properly, including grass adhesive.
For a detailed guide on how to prepare your garden and install fake turf, see our installation guide.
What features can you add to an artificial grass play area?
Once you’ve got your artificial grass installed as the foundation of your play area, there is a wide range of options for features and play equipment you can add.
Slides, swings and climbing frames
To enrich your children and ensure they’re having fun whilst exercising and playing, you can add a number of different features on top of false grass. Climbing frames, swings, slides, tunnels and other playground equipment are perfect for artificial turf as they will stay clean and mud-free, keeping it in better condition for longer.
Unlike astroturf in classic playgrounds, false grass prevents nasty cuts and scrapes and provides a softer foundation for jumping, sliding and crawling.
Sandpit
Sensory play is an essential part of development in younger children, and installing sand and water pits in your false grass garden is a great way to enrich your toddlers. The easy-to-clean nature of false grass means any water spills or sand can be washed away with a hose and there won’t be any muddy areas on exit and entry from the pits.
If you’re looking for ideas to get the most out of your outdoor space with your children, check out our garden activity guide for kids.
Create the perfect play area with Grass Direct
If you’ve designed the dream outside area for your children, now it's time to select the right grass, and there’s no better choice than Grass Direct. Not only do we have the best selection of false grass on the market but we have a team of experts on stand-by ready to answer any questions or queries you may have. Get in touch with our team and let us pick the perfect product to transform your gloomy garden into an area full of adventure for all the family!
